Thursday, November 11, 1999 Published at 12:51 GMTPolice security operation severely testedAround 6,500 England fans hadtickets for the matchThe biggest security operation ever mounted for a British sporting event was severely tested as Scotland and England fans clashed following the Euro 2000 play-off at Hampden Park.

Strathclyde Police had said they were confident that the measures they had put in place would prevent trouble, despite fears that some Scots may have been sold tickets for the English section of the stadium.

Closed-circuit television cameras and undercover officers were on constant lookout for troublemakers, and rival fans were strictly segregated before and after the game.

English supporters were escorted in and out by Hampden's King's Park entrance, and the Scottish fans via the Mount Florida gate.

Police mounted a high profile operations

A huge police presence was maintained in Glasgow throughout the day, stubbing out potential incidents before they could escalate.

A woman told how she saw a group of England fans being ejected from a pub in Buchanan Street.

Fighting broke out and the woman said: "It was absolutely amazing - there were about 60 policemen on the scene within about two minutes.

"It was absolutely incredible and I think some of the England fans were arrested."

Disturbance planned

More than 250 British Transport Police from England were sworn in under Scots law to travel with supporters taking trains across the border.

In a parallel move, 111 English hooligans were identified by the National Criminal Intelligence Service and served with orders requiring them to report to their local police stations in England just before kick-off.